“Kevin Pritchard has 8 windsurfing world titles and also makes films about windsurfing. Being the subject of his latest sport short, “Take 1”, makes me one of the happiest pro windsurfers on and off the water.

When Kevin showed me the first edit, I got goosebumps (or as they say in Hawaii: chicken-skin). It was surreal to see one of windsurfing’s heroes making a short about me. Some of my earliest memories of watching windsurfing events involve seeing Kevin boost 50 feet in the air before rotating into a delayed forward rotation. Or, when I was 16 and competing as the youngest pro on my second year of the professional windsurfing tour, KP added yet another world title to his collection.

Being filmed by a legend has benefits beyond the cool factor. Windsurfing is one of the hardest sports to film, according to every filmmaker I have ever worked with. The first take is the only take. Each wave breaks differently than every other wave. Framing can’t be planned but must be improvised. The strong winds vibrate the camera and the long lens required to keep a tight frame on the windsurfer half a mile out to sea.

There is only one take for every shot. If that take is blown, the whole shot is gone.

When nothing is planned, having an 8x world champion behind the lens makes a difference. He can read me as I read the waves, anticipating my maneuvers. It’s like a dance to an unfamiliar song with a familiar partner.

KP doesn’t have to imagine what its like to jump 50 feet into the air or drop into a 50 foot wave at jaws. He has done all that and more. When I take a foot off my board during a back rotation, I know that he was the first one to do it, winning a world title off that jump in 2002.

And even with Kevin’s skill, shots still get missed. By some version of murphy’s law it seems that the best moves escape capture and must live forever as a memory. Making a short like this, even just 4 minutes in length, takes a few months of filming.

My favorite part of Kevin’s edit is that it feels really honest: the feeling it gives reminds me of what it is like to be on the water.”

Music: “Bullet Train” by Stephen Swartz Ft. Joni Fatora

I am from the Netherlands 28 years old, I live in The Hague, close by to the Beach.
My home spot is Scheveningen, a few hundred meters from my house.
In the normal life I am a self employed carpenter. I also recently started a surfboard repair shop.

When did you start windsurfing?

My first windsurf experience was on a holiday with my parents. I was about 9 years old.
My dad taught me the basics on a lake in France.

How did you get into windsurfing?

When I was 12 years old I saw some guys windsurfing on the Noord Aa, a lake in the area of my parents home.
I became friends with them and from that day on I was hooked on windsurfing.
Very soon the lake was not enough anymore, when I was 15 I sailed at Scheveningen and practiced on my first jumps.

How long have you been riding Ezzy sails? What do you like about them?

8 years, I really like the stability of the sails. The sails are strong but light.

What is your favorite Ezzy Sails Model?

The Wave tiger 4.2

What is your favorite move?

I like to jump forwards.

When you go on a windsurfing trip what is the one thing you never forget?

I always triple check on the plug in the board.

What is your favorite beer?

Castle in South Africa. At home: Jupiler

What is the best windsurfing location you have been to??

Cape Point, South Africa

KP’s 360 air that helped seal the deal!

From Pritchard Windsurfing.com (words by Matt Pritchard)

Wow, what a day it was….. Some great action going on at Hookipa yesterday! Was pretty stoked to see my bro turn it up and do what he knows how to do. He had the toughest 2nd heat I have seen ever- kinda like a final in all reality. Jason Polakow decided to enter last minute and with no ranking he was just thrown in the mix and like what always has happened at Hookipa in the past, the local rippers end up going against the top seeds early on! There are too many great heats and great sailors to mention all of them so just keep your eye on the LIVE FEED coming from the AWT site.

For all of you guys that have ever taken a lesson or clinic with me and heard me tell you to get your weight more forward and front arm extended….. Here are couple pics that really stood out to me! One is of Kev and the other is of Levi. They are controlling the rail and utilizing SPEED to their advantage.

From American Windsurfing:

“Wow! What a day we had at Ho’okipa yesterday for Day 4 of the Maui Makani classic! The swell had dropped off but was still substantial enough to provide some logo to mast high sets. The wind pushed through by mid afternoon and most men had rigged 4.7 – 5.0 with the women choosing 3.7- 4.2. It was an emotional day for former world champ and Maui local Kevin Pritchard as he hammered through heat by heat and finally grabbed the title at Ho’okipa for the single elimination.”

Punta San Carlos AWT Cactus Cup from American Windsurfing Tour on Vimeo.

Check out more umi videos at umipictures.com

Maui Son: Graham Ezzy from umi pictures on Vimeo.

January 13, 2010

Maui, Hawaii- Ezzy Sails is proud to announce multi-time world champion  Kevin Pritchard will be riding for Ezzy Sails in 2011 and beyond. The two have come together to take Ezzy Sails to the next level.

“I am super stoked to start working with David. I am excited to work with such a fine craftsman and have a lot of respect for David and his sail designs. I really like that he is an avid windsurfer and can feel the sails in his own hands rather than just having feedback from me. I am excited to work on the sails, also together with Graham where I would really like to train with him and push each others sailing to new levels. I think it is going to be a fun time!” said Kevin. “I am going to be focusing mainly on the US Windsurfing Tour this year and going to be making all the stops on that combined with some PWA events when they are in good wave riding locations. I am also going to be focusing on doing some clinics and camps and demo’s around the US and in Europe.  It is a new chapter in my career and I am stoked with the challenge.”

Ezzy Sails is a company devoted to making the best sails in the world. Sailmaking since 1983, David has been working nonstop on delivering the world the best products, with insurmountable quality. Never accepting anything less than perfection, Ezzy Sails continues to search for the best materials, most efficient designs, and most durable products on the market.

A full interview with Kevin can be found at this link! ]]> http://www.ezzy.com/kevin-pritchard-joins-ezzy-sails/feed/ 0 http://www.ezzy.com/jp-bowles-going-off-in-the-gorge/ http://www.ezzy.com/jp-bowles-going-off-in-the-gorge/#comments Thu, 29 Jul 2010 19:17:41 +0000 Tim http://www.ezzy.com/?p=2221 http://www.ezzy.com/jp-bowles-going-off-in-the-gorge/feed/ 0